Very interesting. Sounds great. Check this out.
http://www.suhr.com/corso-5-watt-recording-amplifier.htmlAnd a demo from the man that makes everything sound good...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z88MyyxqJGE
Sure is pretty. Smart to make "plywood" a feature... and then slap on a last ply of something pretty. Costs way less that way, but looks like a million bucks. Everyone's getting on the 5-watt bandwagon, it seems.
This one is pricey for a 5 watt, but looks to be pretty loaded with features. Notable exception being a loop. Interesting setup for the variable wattage. There is not actual "volume" control on the amp, just a "power" control which varies the wattage. That's different. (AFAIK).
Thing sounds good though. And while I know 5 watts can get loud, it can also hit the sweet spot at more home friendly volumes. That's probably why so many people are doing them now. Everyone loves their bigger amps, but even my SD18 and Mini Rec and crazy loud when turned up to where they sound the best at home.
And it has a direct recording output. First ones are just getting shipped, but so far feedback is good. I'll be interested to see the post-honeymoon feedback on this one. Looks like a winner.
We're building a few 3-5 watt amps with the same tubes... 12BH7 is the 3-5 watt powerhouse. There's no preamp "distortion" tube (preamp is a 12AU7) so I'm guessing the drive knob actually gets the distortion by pushing the tubes, and the power knob is an actual attenuator. The circuit for this is pretty well known, and all the switches are pretty common mods. The best part to me is the laser-cut front panel and the veneer on the plywood. Looks slick.
Looks and sounds great. Interesting. Probably much more than I want to spend these days.....
Several guys at TGP have received theirs and are starting to comment. I know all about "they honeymoon stage" with gear, but early reviews are fantastic. My favorite is the guy who has probably 10 or more other higher end, low watt amps (all listed in his signature there) and he's saying that this is his favorite low watt amp he's ever tried. Saying it sounds great at any volume, sounds huge when turned up, has TONS of versatility...
To review: I want one! :)
Do you like the way it looks? Is it worth $900 for that? If so, I'd say go buy it. I'm way too DIY to buy that circuit at that price.
I do like the way it looks but that's not why I'm buying it. I don't know what "that circuit" is. I just know it sounds good and seems to be able to sound good a lot of different ways, and something that sounds really good in this power range is better for me for at home. I actually can turn them up to where the tubes sound their best and get away with it some at home.
I haven't bought one yet. I'm going to mod the Class 5 and see how good it is. I know it won't be this good without mods that would be more than I can warrant spending and doing on a $350 amp. It looks cool and of course everyone wants a Marshall. I think that with very simple mods it will be a keeper and maybe even good enough that I stop looking at the boutique low watt amps.
You should build one! 5-8 watts is totally where it's at. We've got three in the 15 watt to 18 watt range, and they all have attenuators on them... just too loud! The 5-watt epiphone is actually a cool little amp... with pedals... and we're building several more in the 5-8 watt range. I don't know much about the Class 5. I'm more of a tweed fan these days so I'm looking for darker, lower wattage, with nastier breakup, less refined... but I appreciate any amp that doesn't smash the windows...
get a VHT Special 6. Cheap, and FAR better amp than the Epiphone. I have a S6 combo and an S6 Ultra head. I need to sell one of them. The Ultra has all kinds of neat stuff on it.
DreamTheaterRules — Oct 30, 2013get a VHT Special 6. Cheap, and FAR better amp than the Epiphone. I have a S6 combo and an S6 Ultra head. I need to sell one of them. The Ultra has all kinds of neat stuff on it.
That amp looks cool, just checked it out on MF. The Ultra also looks real cool too. I have all the amps I need for now. I figure I will probably never play out again, so all I do is daily practice, just because I like making music. But I would do some jams locally if I ever do find some more blues dudes around town. That is the purpose of the SCX2, light, channel switching and actually sounds awesome at all volume levels with the Lil Buddy hemp cone speaker. Had I known how the hemp cone sounded I would have them in all my amps and cabs if I was playing out. The bass notes are so clear and articulate. More-so than any speaker I have ever owned.
DreamTheaterRules — Oct 30, 2013get a VHT Special 6. Cheap, and FAR better amp than the Epiphone. I have a S6 combo and an S6 Ultra head. I need to sell one of them. The Ultra has all kinds of neat stuff on it.
I think you're missing my point. I'm not going to be buying any more amps any time soon... I have way too many to build at this point. And the Epiphone is a fantastic amp for our purposes... $99, one knob (which is a really great amount of controls for a jam amp), 5 watts, takes pedals beautifully...